While I don’t watch much TV, one of the items I do like is police dramas. The other night, I caught the beginning of such a show, or so I thought. Instead, it turned out to be a reality show. Once couple was given $100,000 and told to hide it within one hour. The police (real police, but off duty) had 48 hours to find it. If the police find the money, they keep it – if not, the couple that hid the money keeps it. The ‘stars’ of the show interrogated the couple, who were put in jail, and explained how interrogation works.

In this episode, the couple out-smarted the police. They were able to lie well and get away with it. Even though it was ‘pretend’ (like cobs-and-robbers as a kid), it was still disturbing to see lying to the authorities portrayed so well – definitely not the way to respect God’s authority.

Yet what really bothered me was the reason for this couple to play the game – they wanted to have money for their kids. (The cops had the same reasons, but they were working to ‘catch’ a ‘criminal’ – an honorable calling.) They were willing to do whatever so their children would have money, and not a lot of money in today’s world. The TV producers portrayed them as a loving altruistic couple. Yet I can't help thinking that seeing your parents lie and cheat on national television is not good for any child.

“The ends justify the means” is Machiavellian, not Christian. Evil is never permissible to those who claim Christ’s name. This idea was refuted by Paul in two ways. First, Paul shows us what evil really is. Secondly, Paul reminds us that we don’t control or cause the outcomes – God does. This is a truth that will really benefit our children, the reminder that…

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.